Curtain stretcher



Jan. 2, 1934. A. K. MITCHELL, JR

CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed Dec. 10. 1952 w nky INVE NTOR W, W I

Patented Jan. 2, 1934 I 1,941,810 CURTAIN STRETCHER Allen K. Mitchell,Jr., Munhall, Pa.

Application December 10, 1932 Serial No. 646,637

6 Claims.

My invention relates to curtain stretchers, and more particularly tothose which are supported in the manner of an easel.

One object of my invention is to provide stretcher bars and connectionsof such form and arrangement that the clamping of the bars in assembledrelation will automatically bring the bars into true rectangularformation.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved form ofclamping structure for the corners of the stretcher frame.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved form ofleg support.

One form of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing whereinFigure 1 is a face View of a curtain stretcher; Fig. 2 is an endelevational view thereof; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view taken on the lineIII-III of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a face or plan view of one of the clampingdevices; Fig. 5 is an enlarged view taken on the line V-V of Fig. 2;Fig. 6 is an enlarged face view, of a portion of the structure of Fig.1, and Fig. '7 is an edge view thereof.

The stretcher is provided with the usual edge bars 9 and 10, and endbars 11 and 12, the bar 12 having a detachable section 12a which may befolded backwardly to inoperative position in a manner to be hereinafterdescribed. The bars are all provided with pin-like members 13 upon whichthe edges of the curtains may be hooked in the usual manner.

Each of the bars 9, 10, 11 and 12 has secured thereto at one end aclamping bracket 15 which is in the form of a metal plate or stripsecured to the bar by screws, as shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and 4.The outer end of each plate 15 is offset from its body portion, as shownmore clearly in Fig. 3, and such offset portion carries a rivet or pivotpin 16, and an extended housing-like portion 17. A cam lever 18 ispivotally connected to the pivot pin 16, and has a camming disc 19 whichis movable against a shoulder of a clamping block 20, the block 20having a slotted extension through which the pin 16 extends.

It will be understood that when the clamping lever 18 is swung to bringthe cam disc 19 into engagement with the shoulder of the block 20, theblock will be forced inwardly and move the adjacent stretcher bar intoposition against the end of the bar which carries the clamp. Thisclamping action, of course, results in the bars of each corner beingbrought into right angle relation to one another, so that whenassembled, the frame will be truly rectangular. The bracket members 15may suitably be of pressed metal, and by reason of theirstepped oroffset form, will yield slightly under thrust imparted by the clampingforce.

The lower end of the stretcher bar 12 rests upon the upper edge of thebar 9, while the upper end of the bar 11 has direct engagement with the.

lower edge of the upper bar 10. In making horizontal adjustments to suitcurtains of various lengths, the clamps the corners A and B will beloosened, whereupon the end bar 11 and its associated longitudinal bar 9can be shifted longitudinally of the bar 10 to the desired position. Theclamps at A and B are then tightened.

In order to effect adjustment to curtains of various Widths, the clampsat the corners C and D are loosened, whereupon the bar 9 and itsassociated bar 12 can be slid vertically the desired distance, and theclamps at C and D then tightened.

A leg of any suitable form is provided at the rear side of the bar 11,the upper end of such leg being pivoted to the bar at 22. At the otherend of the stretcher, a leg of different form must be provided since thelower end of the bar 12 does not extend to the floor. For this reason, Iprovide a two-part leg, the front portion of which is indicated by thenumeral 23 and the rear portion by the numeral 24. The leg member 23 issupported against side sway by a clip 25 which is secured to the rearside of the bar 12. A toggle connection 26 is employed to hold the legmembers 23 and 24 in expanded relation; and the leg 24 is pivotallyconnected by a bracket 27 to the leg member 23. v

The upper end'of the leg member 23, is connected to the bar 10 by a bolt28, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. Since with the adjustments at thecorners of the frame as heretofore described, the bars 10 and 11 arenever adjusted vertically, but only the bars 9 and 12, the verticalpositions of the legs which are connected to the bars 10.

and 11 are not disturbed relative to the floor upon which the stretcheris placed. It will, of course, be understood that a single-bar legsimilar to the member 24 can be employed for the bar 11, but thatbecause the bar 12 does not extend clear to the floor, an additional legmember 23 must which is, of course, a desirable feature where the;

stretcher is located in a room that has a low ceiling. This connectionis effected by means of 2, splice plate 30 that is disposed in slotsformed within the adjacent ends of thebar sets 12 and 12a. The spliceplate is held in position in the section 12 by means of pins or rivets31, and the section 12a is pivotally connected to the plate by a pin 32.The front portions of the sections 12 and 12a have abutting surfaces at33, but their rear surfaces have clearance at 34, sothat the;

section 12a can be swung back and folded down when the bar 10 isdisconnected from said section, as by moving the bar section 12 up.

In order to prevent lateral tilting of the bar 12 relative to the bar12a, when the extension 12a is being used, I provide a stop member 40mounted on the inner side of the leg member 23. The stop member 40 ispivotally mounted on a pin which has a thumb nut 41, by means of whichthe stop member may be held in operative position. The stop member 40will, of course, be turned forwardly to overlie the inner side of thebar 12.

I claim as my invention:-

1. A curtain stretcher comprising a rectangular frame composed of endbars and edge bars disposed in a common plane, means for detachablyclamping each bar at one end thereof to the adjacent bar at corners ofthe frame, for adjustment longitudinally of its adjacent bar, means forsupporting the frame in substantially an upright position comprising aleg connected to one end bar in inclined relation thereto, a supportingbar disposed at the rear side of the frame adjacent to the other end barand connected'to the edge bar at the top of the frame, said supportingbar extending parallel to the said other end bar past the edge bar atthe lower edge of the frame, and an inclined leg connected to saidsupporting bar, the lower edge bar and said other end bar beingadjustable transversely of the upper edge bar in directionslongitudinally of said supporting bar.

2. A curtain stretcher comprising a rectangular frame composed of endbars and edge bars disposed in a common plane, means for detachablyclamping each bar at one end thereof to the adjacent bar at corners ofthe frame, for adjustment longitudinally of its adjacent bar, means forsupporting the frame insubstantially an upright position comprising aleg connected to one end bar in inclined relation thereto, a supportingbar disposed at the rear side of the frame adjacent to the otherend barand connected to the edge bar at the top .of the frame, said supportingbarextending parallel to the said other end bar past the edge bar at thelower edge of the frame, an inclined leg connected to saidsupportingbar, the lower edge bar and said other end bar beingadjustable transversely of the upper edge bar in directionslongitudinally of said supporting bar, and means secured to the rearside of .one of the lastnamed bars adjacent to the corner thereof, and

slidablyengaging said supporting bar, for preventing lateral movementthereof relative to the frame.

3. A curtain stretcher comprising a rectangular frame composed of endbars and edge bars disposed in a common plane, means for detachablyclamping each bar at one end thereof to the adjacent bar at corners ofthe frame, for adjustment longitudinally of its adjacent bar, means for.supporting the frame in substantially an upright position comprising aleg connected to one end bar in inclined relation thereto, a supportingbar disposed at the rearside of the frame adjacent to the other end barand connected to the edge bar at the top of the frame,

saidsupporting bar extending parallel to the,

said other end bar past the edge bar. at the lower edge of the frame, aninclined'leg connected to said supporting bar, the lower edge bar andsaidother end bar being adjustable transversely of the upper edge bar indirections longitudinally of said supporting bar, and an extension bar'pivotally connected to the upper end of said other end bar and normallydisposed rearwardly thereof, said extension bar being movable into theplane of said other end bar' to cooperate therewith at a predeterminedposition of adjustment thereof.

4. A curtain stretcher comprising a rectangular frame composed of endbars and edge bars disposed in a common plane, means for detachablyclamping each bar at one end thereof to the adjacent bar at corners ofthe frame, for adjustment longitudinally of its adjacent bar, meansforsupporting the frame in substantially an upright position comprising aleg connected to one end bar in inclined relation thereto, a supportingbar disposed at the rear side of the frame adjacent to, the other endbar: and connected to the edge bar at the top of the frame, saidsupporting bar extending parallel to the edge of the frame, an inclinedleg connected to said supporting bar, the lower edge bar and said otherend bar being adjustable transversely of the upper edge bar indirections longitudinally of said supporting bar, and an extension barpivotally connected to the upper end of said other end bar and normallydisposed rearwardly there'- of, said extension bar being movable intothe plane of said other end'bar to cooperate therewith at apredetermined position of adjustment thereof, the pivotal connectionbeing disposed entirely within the surface planes of said extension barand said other end'bar;v

5. A curtain stretcher comprisinga rectangular frame composed of .endbars and edge bars disposed'in a common plane, means for detachablyclamping each bar at one end thereof to the adjacent bar at corners ofthe frame,.for adjustment longitudinally of its adjacent bar, means forsupporting the frame in substantially an uprightposition, comprising aleg connected to one able transversely of the. upper edge bar in direc-1 5 tions longitudinally of said supporting bar.

6. A curtain stretcher comprising a rectangular. frame composed .of endbars and edge bars disposed in a common plane, means for detachablyclamping each barat one end thereof to the. adjacent bar at corners ofthe frame, for adjustment longitudinally of its adjacent bar, meansforsupporting the frame in substantially an upright position, comprisinga legconnected toone end barin inclined relation thereto, a, supportingbar disposed at the rear side ofthe" other endbarand connected to theedge bar at the top of the frame, said supporting bar extending parallelto the said other end'bar past the edgebar at the lower. edge of theframe, an

inclined leg connected to said supporting'bar, the

lower edge bar and saidother end bar'being'adjustable transversely ofthe upper edgebar in directions longitudinally of said supporting bar,

and a U-shaped clip secured to the rear side of said other end baradjacent to its lower end,

said clip engaging the inner and. outer edges of said supportingbar, forpreventing lateral movement thereof relative to the frame;

